Eliminating Sexual Desire

הלכות קריאת שמע ד

(Artwork by Jackie Olenick)

ויבך על צואריו עוד וכו'
Our Sages explain that at the time when Yosef was crying on his father's neck, Yaakov was saying Shema.  The Rebbe explains the secret of this incident in the 36th lesson of Likutei Moharan.  In short, that when one recites Shema with tears he subdues all sexual desire completely.  Therefore, one who unfortunately has such thoughts regularly must cry during the time that he recites Shema.  This is why Yosef cried as Yaakov recited Krias Shema.  Being the paradigm of sexual purity and the ultimate symbol of shmiras habris via the sefirah of yesod, Yosef wanted to nullify the inherent sexual desire in man, which is the culmination of all evil.  

Parchment and Ink

הלכות ערב ד:ז

When a Jew wraps himself with a tallis and puts on tefillin he draws upon himself the holiness of the parchment and  ink of a sefer Torah.  And, when he davens and reads Krias Shema it is as if he writes and etches the letters of the Torah in ink upon the parchment.  This kedusha is then whole and complete - that is - the writing of a sefer Torah, which contains everything.

Preventing Nocturnal Emissions through the Bedtime Shema

הלכות קריאת שמע על המטה א:א

(Painting by Miriam Gair)

One way the desire for sexual immorality overcomes a person is when he is sleeping, and Heaven forbid has a nocturnal emission.  Therefore, in order to prevent this from happening a person should nullify and blot out any inappropriate thoughts from his mind before going to sleep.  One great way to accomplish this is by reading the Bedtime Shema, which is a great rectification for such thoughts and possible occurrences.  This is because when one accepts upon himself the Yoke of Heaven just before going to sleep he separates his soul from the souls of the erev rav, and includes his soul within the 12 Tribes, which correspond to the Kingship of Holiness.  By doing this he distances himself from evil thoughts.  And, then as he is sleeping he will be able to acquire a new soul and new insights into the Torah.  This is the foundation of the entire blessing of HaMapil as well as all of the verses and confessions that we are accustomed to say in the Bedtime Shema.  

Krias Shema and Tikkun HaBris

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